In the 1970's, we wore Prisoner of War (P.O.W.) bracelets. Today, we also keep others in our memories; Victims of Terrorism and Military Casualties. To keep the memory alive of those who have died at the hands of terrorists or fighting terrorism, we now also wear Memorial Bracelets.
People from all over the country are wearing bracelets from Memorial Bracelets located at www.memorialbracelets.com for their own very personal reasons. Below are some of the stories that we have received.

Monday, June 22, 2009

Well, I wear this to remind me. This is my second for the same person.The first I lost when I was Med-Evaced. Not a day will go by that Iwill remember 20 June 2008. Some things you will never forget, andsome, no matter how hard you try, you can't forget every painful detail.

Sunday, June 21, 2009

I wear my Memorial Bracelet for my fallen comrade Cpl. Richard Bennett who paid the ultimate sacrifice while flying on an AH-1W SuperCobra he was testing during Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2006. Misfit 42, we will never forget you "Lonewolf".

Friday, June 12, 2009

I ordered the Memorial Dog Tags for my wife whose uncle died in 1968 in Vietnam. While growing up her parents never talked about her uncle Charles Martin who died the Vietnam war. Both me and my wife feel that anyone who gives all for their country should be remembered and honored, and we want our kids to understand what it sometimes takes to keep us free. We feel all military men/women are our heroes and it is an honor to have so many in our family.

Thursday, June 11, 2009

In the fall of 2005, I joined the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps at Central Washington University. I had never seen a POW/MIA bracelet until I met one of the Juniors there. Being the dazed and confused Freshman that I was, I never asked him about it though and what it meant. Two years later (his senior year) though, we had become pretty good friends. On his commissioning night, he came up to me and explained what the bracelet was all about...

Maj San D. Francisco graduated and commissioned from our detachment some years ago. As a 1st Lt during the Vietnam war, he was deployed to serve his country. On 25 Nov 68, while riding backseat in an F-4, he and his pilot were shot down. Though both ejected and landed safely, radio contact with Francisco was lost about half an hour later. A combat search and rescue was scrambled to go in the same day, but was unable to get to the pilots due to small arms fire near the area of the crash. The next day, Maj Morrison (the other pilot) was able to reestablish communication with a Forward Air Controller (FAC) but when the rescuers arrived on scene, the weather had gotten worse and were unable to make visual contact with Morrison. No contact was ever reestablished with either of the two. On 26 Nov, a Vietnamese newspaper congratulated the people responsible for downing an F-4 and capturing both pilots. The two were listed as POWs. Unfortunately, after the release of many POWs in 1973, neither of the two were among those lucky enough to make it back home. Since then, Francisco's status has been changed to MIA and has also been promoted to the rank of Major.

Lt Rowbotham (the senior who told me the story) then took off the bracelet--which I had never seen him without in the two years I'd known him--and told me that it was traditon for a graduating senior to hand down the bracelet to either a freshman or sophomore on or around commissioning night. That night, the bracelet was being transfered over to my care and to be placed under my responsiblity. He went on to say that after our Detachment found out about what had happened to Francisco, the Det (detachment) bough a bunch of these bracelets. Over the years, people have lost them or kept them, with the exception of this one bracelet which has stayed in the Det. It went without saying, though he made a point of it, to NOT LOSE IT. The second part of the this tradition is that every person who has worn the bracelet has gotten a coveted pilot slot. Now I had a lot riding on me not to both lose the bracelet or break the "good luck" which came with it...I needed to get a pilot slot my junior year.

Two years, and a wicked tan line, have gone by since I was given the bracelet. This Saturday (13 Jun '09), I will ask a certain cadet (sophomore) to talk with me in private. I'll tell him the story of Maj Francisco. I'll also tell him, though it goes without saying, not to lose it. And I'll explain the tradition behind the bracelet. I'll tell him that every cadet who has worn it has gotten a pilot slot (I'll be going to Laughlin AFB, TX in Dec and will begin my pilot training there!) He will have two years to find a worthy cadet. A cadet that will make it through the program, that knows how to push it up, and is very likely to get a pilot slot, but most importantly, a cadet that will be proud to wear Francisco's personal memorial.

Two years have gone by, and I've grown very attached to keeping the faith alive that San Francisco is still out there fighting a war to come home, and I will NEVER forget him (and my other brothers/sisters). That is why I just bought a new bracelet. Not one to break tradition, I'll hand over this bracelet, and will soon be sporting a new one that I will keep until San Francisco is found and comes home. Thank you for taking the time to hear this story...and for still remembering that we have warriors still out there who need to come home. God bless!

Tuesday, June 09, 2009

I remember the OK city bombing like it was yesterday, like the twin towers. Where I was, how I felt. I remember how my heart broke for all those people, all those babies. April 19th, I will always remember that an AMERICAN killed his own people. I will always remember those babies and their broken bodies. And I will wear my Memorial Bracelet to never forget, to remind others of what domestic terrorism can do. I remember Chase and Cole Smith's mother. I think of her every April 19th. I will wear Chase's name with pride. Pride that his life, so short, was not a waste but a sacrifice.

Saturday, June 06, 2009

I ordered 2 of the leather bracelets. I ordered an Active Duty Bracelet for me and one for my boyfriend who is currently going through his second deployment. The one I wear shows support for him and a little saying that shows how much he means to me. His, that I will send him has a supportive message. When he is having a rough day over there he can look at his bracelet and know that I love him and that before he knows it he will be on his way back home.

It's so important to support the troops after what they go through over there. It's what keeps them going. I'm a very proud girlfriend of a Marine and I'm so excited to get to my bracelet . It should be here any day now. I'm very happy this site is out there, we should never forget the ones who have sacrificed there lives for our country. I will be back for bracelets in the future.

I knew about your site because my brother has lost of friend of his back in 2004. He was killed while in Iraq. My Dad found your site and has a Memorial Bracelet made for the dad of my brothers friend. My Dad and brother ran into the guy a few weeks ago and he still wears the bracelet everyday. He was so touched that my Dad gave it to him. It's so a great way to remember his son and still continues to show his support for our armed forces.

Tuesday, June 02, 2009

The reason i came to this web site is because one of my very good friends was killed in Afghanistan from an IED blast. I will be able to wear the Memorial Bracelet as soon as i get back from Afghanistan in summer of 09. I was very pleased to know that there is a site that is making and selling Memorial Bracelets. When i first saw one, it took me a couple mins to figure out what it was but when i did, i didn't want to ask what happened cause i know how it is to lose someone close. I didn't like to bring up the memories of it, but when i found myself in the same situation of losing a friend while in combat, i realized how he felt. So when i do get back to the states, i will be wearing it every day and i bought 2 so i can put one on my rear view mirror of my car. I would like to say thank you to all the people that have one and are supporting.